St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church

Usually on Christmas,
We're terrible at purchasing gifts for each other.
Chia pets, just aren't that amusing
after the third year you receive them.
Donnie and marie records.
The too-tight sweater
(must I lose a few more pounds?),
or a scarf that isn't in season.

We tend to pay more for gifts,
than the receiver would spend on the same object.
And we get gifts that make us pause, wondering
does the person really know me?

Not that we want to be ingrates;
but it is easy to wonder what people really think about you
when you get your third idiot's guide book.

You know that they care,
but they paid too much for it.

So we buy gift cards
They are efficient and effective.

You might feel a bit guilty when you get a gift you don't appreciate.
You'll never tell them what you think.
You might keep their gift in the same wrapper.
Give it another year to someone else who can appreciate it more.

Sometimes its simple gifts that are enough.
Film and batteries were what my father wanted;
good tea for my mother.
Some gifts you can't go wrong - photo frames, perhaps.

A pashmina scarf will be worn as long as the design isn't to ostentatious.
Gloves -well we all lose gloves, so gloves are useful.

Consumable gifts - great. A little pleasure in one's life,
like some coffee or wine you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself.

But gifts are an art.

Gifts, we know, please us. They create attachments,
help us strengthen our relationships between one another
with a peaceful economy.

Giving is an easy pleasure.

Giving is an implicit praise.

We buy gifts that we hope are pleasing to others.

Sometimes we hit the best luck when
we know there is guaranteed pleasure.

Can't go wrong with good food,
and whiskey for some,
or a gift certificate to borders;
And when someone has your taste,
you just buy them what you love.

One of the exchanges that is
crucial to our lives is praise.
Praise itself is an extraordinary gift.

Praise helps us organize our souls
makes us coherent enough to feel
that the work we do is worth doing.

But there are some caveats.

We get easily misled by signs,
symbols and signatures that aren't
always of our own making.

The reasons we look for praise, aren't always
what we need praise for.

We tend to work out of habit,
out of ease and convenience.
we like what others like,
and our environment frames our state of mind
more than we'd like to admit.

Which is why there is some truth to the insight
we tend to want what we buy
rather than we buy what we want.

When people find they get a raise,

some unavailable goods suddenly become desireable.
I never really wanted a lambroghini, but
not that I have a million dollars,
I guess I just have to spend it.

So the question becomes,
What are we truly looking for,
if all our affluence isn't enough?

What we want and need,
And what God gives Jesus,
is a simple of praise -
a radical restructuring of what is truly pleasurable:

not goods that are immediately gratifying -
although those are nice,
but signs that we are worth being praised.

When God says to Jesus, "with you I am well pleased" I wonder,
What was exchanged in this?

What did Jesus do?
Did he get the right gifts for God?

What kind of work do we do,
to Get God's attention.
to pull Him closer.

I suspect all Jesus does,
is praise God and announce his kingdom.

It's here.
we've got some life, and it is before us.

Praise is different than other kinds of social interaction;
it elevates the heart;
it gives us confidence.

Not only being praised, but praising others.

Not the easy kind of praise that politicans give;
those that are looking for something in return,
but real praise,
praise that is appreciative of
small steps
of little improvements,
of local connections,
of quiet joys.

Now some of us aren't good at praise.
For reasonable reasons.
We don't want to lower standards.

When comparing fear to praise,
fear is often more effective
in getting work done.
Especially in the short term.

But praise is what we look for in the gifts we give,
and the gifts we are given.
We seek gifts that accurately say to the other,
"you are worthy."
and when we get such a gift, our heart rises, just a bit.

Now there are a variety of reasons to praise:

One is to make sure the tyrant doesn't kill you.
You praise the tyrant, and he feels better.

It's useful. I don't disparage that.

But the praise between Jesus and God dislocates
the immediately gratifying,
the signs of greed and envy,
but through a praise based on cooperation,
and mutual joy,
the relationship between God and His Son.

The relationship between fathers and sons is not always like that.
It can be based on competitiveness,
on violence, on a variety
of acts that damage the soul,
and make us closed, bitter and angry.

When God says to Jesus, with you I am well pleased,
Jesus then has the power, the strength to turn to us and say,
I am strong enough that I can take all the violence in the world,
and say there is enough love for all,
because with you, also, I am well pleased.

A small gift is all I need.
And that is the gift of who you are,
you wonderful, adorable,
lovely creature you.